Finding Peace Beyond Circumstances: Paul's Journey
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Sermon Summary
Bible Study Guide
Sermon Clips
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "For the majority of people, and certainly our culture, we tend to define our current reality as good or bad based off of our circumstances. In fact, one of our favorite questions to ask is, 'How's your day?'... But what I have found is when people say, 'Oh, good,' when people answer this question truthfully, and they answer it with honesty, that more often than not, whether it was good or it was bad, was based on the circumstances that took place that day." [02:48]
2. "The unfortunate reality of using our day-to-day circumstances as the determining factor for the success of that given day, it leaves life up to chance and our mood very unpredictable. People who live this way are just never truly at peace. You can't be because your day is being defined by circumstances outside of your control. They may be happy one day and then unbearably sad the next." [06:04]
3. "For those of us who are Christ followers, we have been given a solution. We can live with a true sense of peace, purpose, and confidence despite our circumstances. And much like the story of the Chinese farmer has become so compelling today, I would say it's this peace, confidence, and purpose that was so compelling to the world that surrounded the early Christian church." [07:02]
4. "Paul's guide, what he's leaning on, is where to guide him and where he should go is the Holy Spirit. And his perspective is that the only thing that matters, his sole motivation is to share the gospel, the good news. I mean, he literally said in there that like the Spirit's telling him, you're going to go from town to town and you're going to be imprisoned and persecuted, but I'm still sending you here." [18:34]
5. "All we have to do is recognize God as being intimately present within us. Then we may speak directly to him every time we need to ask for help to know his will in moments of uncertainty and to do whatever he wants to do in a way that pleases him. We should offer our work to him before we begin and thank him afterward for the privilege of having done it for his sake." [24:36]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Paul's journey to Rome was one many may not expect or even desire. I would say for many of us as Christ followers today, we would look at Paul's story and we'd be like, yeah, I'm okay with that. Like, I don't need that in my life, but it is one filled with just amazing stories and miraculous moments. And even more importantly, his journey was filled with both good and bad circumstances. And as you read through it, this Paul that we read about, this follower of Jesus Christ, this apostle, he seems unfazed by any of it, like good or bad. He's just unfazed by it. And he just continues on because he sees something different in his life." [11:18]
2. "Paul must have continually turned his mind to the reality that all those circumstances were out of his control. He served a God who was in control. And as Brother Lawrence has also said in this, that beautiful book, the difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them through faith or unbelief that makes them seem so. We must be convinced that our Father is full of love for us and that he only permits trials to come our way for our own good." [28:54]
3. "Paul's perspective is that the only thing that matters, his sole motivation is to share the gospel, the good news. I mean, he literally said in there that like the Spirit's telling him, you're going to go from town to town and you're going to be imprisoned and persecuted, but I'm still sending you here. And he still heads off with confidence, peace, and purpose." [18:34]
4. "I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. Now I know you were concerned before, but had no opportunity to do so. I'm not saying this because I'm in need for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I'm able to do all things through the one who strengthens me." [20:12]
5. "This was Paul's perspective again, that nothing mattered more than the work he had been given to tell others about the good news of the wonderful grace of God. And he continued to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide him toward this end, not his circumstances, not his feelings, not what was in the moment. He leaned on the Holy Spirit to direct him, to guide him, and to give him purpose." [18:58]
Ask a question about this sermon
1. "For the majority of people, and certainly our culture, we tend to define our current reality as good or bad based off of our circumstances. In fact, one of our favorite questions to ask is, 'How's your day?'... But what I have found is when people say, 'Oh, good,' when people answer this question truthfully, and they answer it with honesty, that more often than not, whether it was good or it was bad, was based on the circumstances that took place that day." [02:48]
2. "The unfortunate reality of using our day-to-day circumstances as the determining factor for the success of that given day, it leaves life up to chance and our mood very unpredictable. People who live this way are just never truly at peace. You can't be because your day is being defined by circumstances outside of your control. They may be happy one day and then unbearably sad the next." [06:04]
3. "For those of us who are Christ followers, we have been given a solution. We can live with a true sense of peace, purpose, and confidence despite our circumstances. And much like the story of the Chinese farmer has become so compelling today, I would say it's this peace, confidence, and purpose that was so compelling to the world that surrounded the early Christian church." [07:02]
4. "Paul's guide, what he's leaning on, is where to guide him and where he should go is the Holy Spirit. And his perspective is that the only thing that matters, his sole motivation is to share the gospel, the good news. I mean, he literally said in there that like the Spirit's telling him, you're going to go from town to town and you're going to be imprisoned and persecuted, but I'm still sending you here." [18:34]
5. "All we have to do is recognize God as being intimately present within us. Then we may speak directly to him every time we need to ask for help to know his will in moments of uncertainty and to do whatever he wants to do in a way that pleases him. We should offer our work to him before we begin and thank him afterward for the privilege of having done it for his sake." [24:36]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Paul's journey to Rome was one many may not expect or even desire. I would say for many of us as Christ followers today, we would look at Paul's story and we'd be like, yeah, I'm okay with that. Like, I don't need that in my life, but it is one filled with just amazing stories and miraculous moments. And even more importantly, his journey was filled with both good and bad circumstances. And as you read through it, this Paul that we read about, this follower of Jesus Christ, this apostle, he seems unfazed by any of it, like good or bad. He's just unfazed by it. And he just continues on because he sees something different in his life." [11:18]
2. "Paul must have continually turned his mind to the reality that all those circumstances were out of his control. He served a God who was in control. And as Brother Lawrence has also said in this, that beautiful book, the difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them through faith or unbelief that makes them seem so. We must be convinced that our Father is full of love for us and that he only permits trials to come our way for our own good." [28:54]
3. "Paul's perspective is that the only thing that matters, his sole motivation is to share the gospel, the good news. I mean, he literally said in there that like the Spirit's telling him, you're going to go from town to town and you're going to be imprisoned and persecuted, but I'm still sending you here. And he still heads off with confidence, peace, and purpose." [18:34]
4. "I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. Now I know you were concerned before, but had no opportunity to do so. I'm not saying this because I'm in need for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I'm able to do all things through the one who strengthens me." [20:12]
5. "This was Paul's perspective again, that nothing mattered more than the work he had been given to tell others about the good news of the wonderful grace of God. And he continued to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide him toward this end, not his circumstances, not his feelings, not what was in the moment. He leaned on the Holy Spirit to direct him, to guide him, and to give him purpose." [18:58]
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